Torpedo discharge means



Dec. 11, 1945. H. BRADBERRY TORPEDO DISCHARGE MEANS Filed Jan. 8, 1945 dP N 0 m w W d W I a u 4 910 0M 0 r 9 1 i o n 5 2 6 m .I/ 4 WV 5 m 0 485.m f 42 F fi w w u m V w m, a 1 w i 4 w U MM. 7 u n m N M u k 9 m .H m wM. m 4,6 mfl J" 5 7 $1 .I l 111? PM w v Patented Dec. 11, 1945 UNITEDSTATES PATENT @FFTCE TORPEDO DISCHARGE lVEEANS Henrietta Bradberry,Chicago, 111. Application January 8, 1945, Serial No. 571,744

4 Claims.

My invention described in the instant application appertains to torpedodischarge means, and is in part a continuation of my co-pending parentapplication Serial Number 525,692, filed March 9,1944.

An important object, of the invention disclosed herein, is to providetorpedo discharge means operated pneumatically and adapted to dischargetorpedoes below the surface of a body of water, the said torpedodischarge means being located in such water craft as submarines or insub-terranian forts similar to the invention disclosed in my co--pendingapplication serial num ber hereinabove designated.

Another object of my invention is to provide a torpedo discharge meanswhich is adapted to automatically trip the porpelling means of torpedoesdischarged therethru concurrently with the initial travel or projectionof the said torpedoes within the said discharge means.

Another object of my invention is to provide torpedo discharge meanswhich will be operative to effectively and efficiently dischargetorpedoes below the surface of a body of water, the said torpedodischarge means being provided with an outlet submerged below thesurface of a body of water and extending thereinto; the said torpedodischarge means being so constructed as to prevent the water pressurefrom penetrating into the effective mechanism thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide torpedo discharge meanswhich is practical in its construction, eificient and useful in itsoperation, and of such simple construction that it can be producedeconomically in quantit production.

Other objects, features, and advantages inherent in my invention willbecome apparent from an examination of the accompanying drawing, havingparticular reference to the ensuing description, wherein like parts aredesignated by like symbols, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional View substantially, taken onthe line l-l of Figure 2. Fig. 2 is a top view of the View shown inFigure 1.

Fig. 3 is a transversal cross-sectional view taken approximately on theline 33 of Figure 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view showing theinlet to the torpedo discharge means, where tor pedoes are initiallyinserted discharged into and below the surface of a of water.

Referring to the various figures, the torpedo discharge means comprisingmy preparatory to being body invention is,

generally, designated 5, and is comprised of a body 6, and an enlargedflange section 1, secured to the body 6, the body also being providedwith a discharge tube 8, having a suitable bore 52 therein in order toeffectively discharge torpedoes H? which may be passed therethru, andsubsequently ejected from the outlet tube 9 into and below the surfaceof a body of water.

Within the body 6 is mounted a rotating drum l l, pivoted or rigidlysecured to a shaft ll, having trunnions I8 journalled within the body 6,whereby the drum H is adapted to be rotated. The drum, approximately atits mid-portion, is provided with a geared portion l2 which is adaptedto mesh with the pinion l3 secured to the shaft i i, journalled suitablywithin the body 6, and having a squared extension 15 adapted to beengaged by a manipulating handle iii. The drum H is sealed within thebody 6 by gaskets 29, so that the openings or bore I9 therein whenbrought into alignment with the discharge bore 9, will prevent waterfrom seeping into the operative mechanism of the discharge tube means.

A conduit 32 is connected to the body '5, which in turn is connected toan air pressure valve 33, in turn connected thru the conduit 34 to aproper source of supply such as a compressor, or other suitable sourceof air pressure supply.

The torpedoes iii are provided with the proper propulsion mechanismindicated at 50, and a trigger or sta'rter H which slides freely withinthe slotted groove 28 until it passes or strikes the abutment 49, whichcauses the trigger 2! to be tripped setting the operable mechanism 523of the torpedo in motion, so that when it is ultimately discharged itwill be propelled under its own power toward the target to which it maybe directed.

The air pressure means 32 is connected to the duct 3|, which is alsosealed by a gasket 35 so as to prevent seepage of air therethru, and isin turn connected to the conduit 36 which opens into the chambers IQ ofthe drum I I.

In order to hold the passage or bore is in registry with the bore 9, apawl arrangement is indicated at 26 which may be manipulated by the handof the person operating the same, the said pawl being pivoted at ii! andhaving a tooth of gear formation 28 adapted to mesh with the gear teeth!2 in-the drum 5, the body is recessed at 22 in order to accommodate thefiat leaf spring 23 anchored at 24 and provided with a terminus 25exerting pressure on the tooth 28 tending to maintain it, normally, inengagement with any one of the teeth I2 which is brought in meshtherewith.

The torpedoes are inserted into the opening I9 by means of the structureindicated in Figure 4, where it can be noted that the flange portion 1is recessed with an opening to match the bore I9, and is threaded with acoarse Whitworth thread 31 to match the male Whitworth thread 38 on theaxle 39 to which is secured the handwheel 40 by means of an attachingpin 4|; the axle 39 being adapted to rotate within the flange casting42. The said flange 42 is provided with a recess portion 43, the linkage44 and 4! being connected respectively at 36, and linkage 44 and 45being articulately secured at 36 and 31 and also being adapted to hingeat 48, the pivot 41 is secured to a casting bracket or bearing 46 whichis secured to the flange I by any suitable means not shown.

' Operation In order to operate my invention, a torpedo I0 is placedwithin the opening I 9 in the drum 6 by turning the hand wheel 40 so asto loosen the thread 3'8 from engagement with the thread 31, thuspermitting the joint assembly of the casting 42 and the hand wheel 4! tobe articulated by virtue of the linkage 44 and 34 as heretoforeexpounded. After the torpedo is placed in the cavity I9 of the drum 6,the assemblage of the hand wheel structure is brought into alignmentwith the passage I9, and the thread 38 is once more caused to engage thethreaded portion 31 causing the casting 42 to be seated firmly againstthe flange I so as to prevent air pressure leakage of any kind.

After this has been accomplished, the air pressure valve 33 is openedreleasing the air pressure and conducting it into the opening E 9 behindthe torpedo mechanism causing the torpedo to be propelled forward untilthe tripper dog or trigger 2| is tripped by the abutment 49, setting thetorpedo motivating mechanism 50 in operation, so that the torpedo isthen discharged under its own power and directed toward the target, thruthe discharge tube means 9.

The cycle of operation is repeated by manipulating the handle 26 torelease the locking pawl 28 from engagingthe drum II, then bringinganother cavity I9 of the drum II into proper alignment with thedischarge outlet 9 and the hand-wheel assemblage 40 for insertion oftorpedoes; this is done by manipulating the handle it and rotating thepinion I3 which engages the teeth i2, thus bringing the drum into properalignment, and then releasing the locking pawl 28 permitting thepotential energy in the spring 23 to force the tooth 28 into lockingengagement, securely maintaining the drum in locking position during thedischarge operation to follow, thus the cycle is repeated.

Altho, I have, herein, described and revealed my invention, and inasmuchas it is susceptible of various modifications, I reserve the right toall such modifications coming within the scope and spirit of myinvention; my invention to be limited only to the subjoined claims.

Having thus described and revealed my invention, what I claim as noveland desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Torpedo discharge means comprising, a body, a magazine having amultiplicity of torpedo holding sections, the said magazine beingrotatably confined within the said body, each of said torpedo holdingsections provided with an elongated abutment means adapted to initiaterecess terminating in'an abutment to trip the propelling mechanism of atorpedo, torpedo outlet means provided on said body extending into andbelow the surface of a body of water, gearing means secured within saidbody associated with the said magazine adapted to index the said torpedoholding sections in co-axial alignment with the said torpedo outletmeans, locking pawl means secured within the said body and cooperatingwith the said gearing means adapted to maintain fixedly and releasablythe co-axial alignment of said torpedo holding sections and the saidtorpedo discharge outlet, pressure means located in the said body andcommunicating with the said torpedo holding sections adapted toinitially di rect a torpedo thru the said torpedo holding sections andthe said torpedo outlet means, and loading cover means articulatelysecured to the said body and adapted to be releasably and sealablysecured to the said body.

2. Torpedo discharge means comprising, a body having a torpedo chargingsection, a torpedo discharge section emanating into and below thesurface of a body of water, a torpedo retaining magazine rotatablyconfined in the said body and provided with a multiplicity of torpedoretaining chambers, each of said chambers provided with abutment meansadaptedto initiate operation of the propelling mechanism of a torpedo,pressure conduit means in said body adapted to fire the torpedoes,gearing means in said body and on the said magazine adapted to align itschambers with the said torpedo discharge section, and locking pawl meansin said body adapted to engage the gearing means on said magazine tomaintain fixed alignment between said chambers and the said torpedodischarge section.

3. Torpedo discharge means comprising, a body having a torpedo chargingsection, a torpedo discharge section emanating into and below the sur-'face of a body of water, a torpedo retaining magazine rotatably confinedin the said body and provided with a multiplicity of torpedo retainingchambers, each of said chambers provided with operation of thepropelling mechanism of a torpedo, pressure conduit means in said bodyadapted to fire the torpedoes, gearing means in said body and on thesaid magazine adapted to align its chambers with the said torpedodischarge section, and manually operable and spring urged pawl means insaid body adapted to engage the gearing means on said magazine tomaintain fixed alignment between said chambers and the said torpedodischarge section.

4. Torpedo discharge means comprising, a body, a magazine having amultiplicity of torpedo hold.- ing sections, the said magazine beingrotatably confined within th said body, each of said torpedo holdingsections provided with an elongated recess terminating in an abutmentadapted to trip the propelling mechanism of a torpedo, torpedo outletmeans provided on said body extending into and below the surface of abody of water, gearing means secured Within said body associated withthe said magazine adapted to index the said torpedo holding sections inco-axial alignment with the said torpedo outlet means, locking pawlmeans secured within the said body and cooperating with the said gearingmeans adapted to maintain fixedly and releasably the co-axial alignmentof said torpedo holding sections and the said torpedo discharge outlet,pressure means located in the said body and communicating with the saidtorpedo holding sections adapted to initially direct a torpedo thru thesaid torpedo holding sections and the said torpedo outlet means, andloading cover means articulately secured to the said body and adapted tobe releasably and sealably secured to the said body, the said loadingcover means comprising, a cover hingedly secured to the said body, anaxis rotatably confined in the said cover and provided with :a coarsethreaded male section at one of its ends, a threaded female section inthe said body adapted to engage the said threaded male section, and ahand-wheel secured to the other end of said axis.

HENRIETTA BRADBERRY.

